The Rain Band have Manchester running through their veins and tonight
it's more evident that usual. Their supporting former Stone Roses axe man
John Squire, are managed by the Charlatans manager and are playing to an
audience including Manchester legends John Robb, Bonehead, Cressa and numerous
other faces I didn't happen to bump into. The Charlatans connection goes
back further though till about 6 years ago when the band were called Sussed
and your correspondent used to buy their demo tapes for 99p from the now
defunct Omega Records (also owned by the Charlatans management).

After seeing the Rain Band play their forth ever gig 12 months ago at
the Green Rooms the band went onto sign a deal with Island Records. During
this time they've recorded an album due for release later this year and
the single is "Easy Rider" is out later this month but you can't help but
feel the bands confidence it at an all time low. At those very early gigs
frontman Richard had the sort of Northern swagger to compete with Gallagher,
Brown or Ryder but now he merely shuffles and shakes his hand to the beat
with the sort of confidence of Judy Finnigan deprived of alcohol. The sound
also sound muggy but is still streets ahead of their fellow tour support
band Palo Alto who's american dirge really has to be seen before you shout
out "And we thought we had it bad with the Stereophonics".

On their swaggering best on "Easy Rider", "Fist of Fury" and "Eye For
An Eye" they mix up the beats with spiralling guitar riffs, but it's the
same formula throughout. It's noticeable how the beats have been stripped
back in favour of more traditional rock elements and as a result it's more
appropriate to call them a rock band with a dance influence than an organic
dance band. The Rain Band will never be a classic Manchester band because
they rely to heavily on their influences rather than look to the
innovation of the Madchester bands, but the future is still within their
grasp as to whether they soar or simply plunder one. A little confidence
as they say, can go a hell of a long way.